The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-03-17
MORE SURVEYS WANTED.
Let Your Petitions go up to the
Secretary of the Interior.

A petition for the speedy settle.
ment of the question relating to the
extinguishment Of the alleged title to
the district of lands claimed by the
Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa
Indians, is now in circulation among
the people of Bottineau county, ad-
! dressed to the Honorable, the Secre-
tary of the Interior, as by the follow,
ing letter from the Land Commission
er, it would seem that the RESPONSE
bility for non n.action in the matter of
surveys is to be laid at the doors of
the Honorable Secretary.
We believe in giving the devil his
due and for that reason are inclined
to exonerate the Honorable Commits
sioner from any fault in the premises.
In respect to a survey of the
Mountains, we take issue with the
Commissioner and while admitting
that it would be a matter of impossi.
bility to comply with the instructions
as to digging pits and building mounds,
we submit that no pits are necessary
and where there are so much timber
and stone as are to be found in and
around the mountains, no naoa,,,ds are
required to be built of earth; further
more. that with the exception of two
big lakes, the marshes and ponds,
though numerous, are too small to be
meandered or defined.
As matter of fact there euus a
township CNo: 1862 R. 73) surveyed
in the winter of 1884, which was
almost wholly in the same mount
aims.
To the Honorable Secretary of the
Interior, therefore, must the people
and settlers of Bottipeau county look
for relief and with, the hope and in
the belief that, as in the past, his de-
cisions; rulings and official conduct
have been with and for the people in
their struggle for existence and a
home, 50 in the near future, the de.
termination Of the question which is
now before the Secretary of the In.
terror for his consideration, SO fraught
with good to 50 many Of his country
men, will be speedily made, and. thus
set at rest the fear that prevails in the
minds Of many that this section of the
country devoted to civilization and
progress can ever become the proper
ty of q worthless and renegade band
of Indians. y, +. :.
As a matter of fact, It is worthy of
consideration, that notwithstanding
the pretended title Of these Indians,
the government still continues to &C.
cept filings, take the settlers money
for land for which patents are granted
in the very district claimed by
this 50 called band of Chippewa In.
dians. -, -.
The following is the letter referred
to above, addressed to the editor o1
the PIONEER.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR !
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, D. e. FEB. rs, 1887.
s1R;-I am in receipt, by reference: from
the Department, Of your letter dated Janua-
ry Oath last, to the Secretary Of the Interi-
or, relative to the best season of the year
within which to prosecute the public land
surveys in the Turtle Mountain district in
Dakota. You state that when the, lakes,
ponds, and marshes, which form large
portion Of said district, are frozen over. is
the most advantageous period for. public
surveys; also that the semi-annual fires will
soon denude the mountains of timber, and
request that immediate action :}be taken
looking to the survey Of said lands.
III reply you are informed that the pros
eeution Of the surveys of the public; lands
in Dakota during the winter months, when
the thermometer: falls many degrees below
zero and the ground is frozen to; the depth
of several feet, is deemed disadvautageous
to the public interests. O@ing to the con-
dition Of the ground during that season it
would be . maxsf Of impossibility for the
contracting deputy surveyor to comply with
the Manuel Of Surveying Instructions as to
DIGGING Pirs AND ButIbfsa HOUNDS; also to
properly meander the lakss and ponds and
define the marsh lands.
The matter of the further: !, prosecution Of
the public land surveys within the district
claimed By the Turtle Mountain band Of
Chippewa Indians, and to which, il is al
leged, their :s.tls has never y Beer. extin-
ydished BY ths government, kas be b On aus
pended, pending the consideration by the
seoretary 81 TIE interior, III sihs claim u
aid Indians to the lands in qassti on. u
Until said question shah hase, been de-
ermined " the Sbcretary of I'D Int efior,